The Black Moth: A Romance of the XVIIIth Century

Clad in black and silver, the dashing Duke of Andover writes a scathing, sardonic letter to his old rival Frank Fortescue, boasting of past affairs and issuing veiled threats. His striking appearance—raven hair, green eyes, a patch beneath one eye—marks him as both charismatic and dangerous. The correspondence hints at a tangled love triangle, a mischievous “devil” who delights in games of honor and revenge. Listeners are drawn into a world where aristocratic pride collides with secret passions.

The scene shifts to the Chequers Inn in Fallowfield, run by the flamboyant Mr. Chadber, a staunch Tory whose loyalties to the Stuart cause color every conversation. Amid the clamor of ale and political toast, a young green‑clad lawyer arrives, setting off a chain of encounters that weave together ambition, old grudges, and whispered rumors of fugitives from the ‘Forty‑Five. As alliances form and betrayals loom, the stage is set for a high‑stakes romance that could change the fortunes of both the noble and the common folk.